RTRTNOHALT. 283 



CHAPTER 34. 



STRING HALT. 

 570. Nature of the disease. 



The peculiar twitching, or sudden and convulsive picking up of the 

 leg, known as Stringhalt, is obviously due to some affection of the nerves. 



In some cases it may be traced to the pressure of some exostosis on a 

 nerve ; but, as a general rule, we are unable to account for the affection, 

 nor does post-mortem examination always show any abnormal state of 

 the nerves. 



The disease varies very much in degree or intensity in various cases. 

 It generally affects one or both hind legs, but it is also occasionally 

 noticed in the fore-leg. 



In the early stage it is most easily detected, when the animal is first 

 put in motion, and also when he is in the act of turning. The disease 

 generally increases with age, and, though at first it may produce but 

 little or no inconvenience, in the end it generally becomes not only very 

 unsightly, but also seriously interferes with the action. 



No treatment, that we are acquainted with, produces any beneficial 

 effect, but careful attention to the condition of the digestive system has a 

 favorable influence. Something may perhaps be hoped from the newly 

 utilized powers of electricity. 



